Pre-authentication heap corruption via undersized ETM packets
Published Jul 24, 2026 · Updated Jul 24, 2026
Heap buffer overflow in libssh2 through 1.11.1 allows remote attackers controlling an SSH server to corrupt connecting clients. The transport_fullpacket function allocates decrypt_buffer from the packet-derived decrypt size, then copies a cipher block without first rejecting an ETM packet shorter than that block. A client must initiate the SSH session and negotiate Encrypt-then-MAC; successful exploitation can overlap heap objects and overwrite a function pointer before authentication.
Summary
What happened
Heap buffer overflow in libssh2 through 1.11.1 allows remote attackers controlling an SSH server to corrupt connecting clients. The transport_fullpacket function allocates decrypt_buffer from the packet-derived decrypt size, then copies a cipher block without first rejecting an ETM packet shorter than that block. A client must initiate the SSH session and negotiate Encrypt-then-MAC; successful exploitation can overlap heap objects and overwrite a function pointer before authentication.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-66035
- Published
- Jul 24, 2026
- Updated
- Jul 24, 2026
- Vendor
- libssh2
- Product
- libssh2
- Classifications
- CWE-122, T1203
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 24, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jul 24, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=0 <=1.11.1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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